I wanted to outdo myself by winning World Billiards: Advani

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When ace cueist Pankaj Advanidecided to take part in the World Billiards Championship, he had quietly made a promise to himself that nothing short of silverware would satisfy him and he kept his date with destiny.

The only active player to compete at the highest level in both Billiards and Snooker, Advani had made a tough choice of picking the World Billiards in Leeds over International Snooker Championships in China due to a clash in the dates of the two tournaments.

Does he feel vindicated and the 27-year-old Bangalorean's reply was as smooth as his approach towards the green baize.

"I feel relieved and proud of my decision. Whenever I've had to make a choice (2006 Asian Games is another example), I've come through. I guess the pressure of missing out on something makes me want to outdo myself in what I choose even more," Advani told PTI in an interview from Leeds.

"It (choosing between the two tournaments) definitely was a tough decision to make but your heart seldom lets you down.

I had a great feeling about the World Billiards this time and simply followed the calling," he added.

Advani proved his class when he notched up his seventh World Billiards Championship title after comprehensively beating defending champion and seasoned Englishman Mike Russell in the Time Format final in Leeds late last night.

The celebrated cueist stamped his dominance with a 1895-1216 win over the local favourite.

Advani has thus become the youngest Indian ever to win eight World titles in any sport after his recent triumph.

Advani, the only player in the world to win a Professional World Title in Billiards while participating in the Professional Snooker Circuit in the same year, rated this win in his career as a "special one".